Motorized fountain-type tooth brush



March 14, 1939. T. B. OLIVER MOTORIZED FOUNTAIN-TYPE TOOTH BRUSH FiledDec. 10, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l 6 lnven ior Z'fimwm 27. O/d/W A imrpeysMarch 14, 1939. OLIVER MOTORIZED FOUNTAIN-TYPE TOOTH BRUSH Filed Dec.10, 195E 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 14 I Zfiz/r/mm 3. 0/478 By 94mm A iiomeusMOTORIZED FOUNTAIN-TYPE TOOTH BRUSH Filed Dec. 10,1936 4 Sheets-Sheet sf.7 I Inventor J4 H/f/ TzmmaaflO/nkar A 401 2:". [a A Attorneys March14, 1939. B OLIVER I MOTORIZED FOUNTAIN-TYPE TOOTH BRUSH 4 Sheets-Sheet4 Filed Dec. 10, 1956 Inventor fiu/wmvfi. U/fVer Attorneys Patented Mar.14, 1939 2,150,842

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOTORIZED FOUNTAIN-TYPE TOOTH BRUSH ThurmanBoyce Oliver, Athens, Ga.

Application December 10, 1936, Serial No. 115,222

1 Claim. (Cl.'15--24) The present invention relates to so-calledronumerals are employed to designate like parts tary tooth brushes andhas reference to an electhroughout the views:

tric motor operated apparatus which, while Figure 1 is an elevationalview of the complete usable in dental parlors and similar quarters, isstructural assemblage constructed in accordance essentially adapted fordomestic or home use. with my own inventive idea. 5

In accordance with the principles of my in- Figure 2 is a top plan viewof the arrangement vention I have perfected a comparatively simple,depicted in Figure 1. motorized structure characterized by a detach-Figure 3 is a view partly in section and partly able fountain brush unitcooperable with means in elevation detailing the brush head construcforsupplying a cleaning fluid, under pressure, tion and shaft propulsionmeans. 10 to the bristle brushes for effective cleansing, Figure 4 is abottom plan view of the brush additional means being provided forautomaticalunit adapter coupling or fitting. ly disposing of extraneousmatter, whereby to Figure 5 is an end view of the handle formingaccomplish the desired results in an eflicient and portion of the brushhead unit.

aptly suitable manner. Figure 6 is a detail section taken on the plane15 One feature and advantage is predicated upon of the line 66 ofFigure 1. the adoption and use of a detachable power op- Figure '7 is afragmentary bottom plan View erated brush unit having a properlyconstructed looking upwardly beneath the motor and cylindershield-forming head apertured to deliver the assembly disclosing thetransmission gearing.

cleansing fluid to a pair of parallel oppositely Figure 8 is a viewpartly in section and partly 2o rotating bristle brushes thus providinga duin elevation showing the electric motor conplex fountain brushassemblage susceptible of trolled piston and cylinder means.

adequately and simultaneously cleaning and Figure 9 is a somewhatenlarged bottom plan brushing the surfaces of the upper and lower viewof the ovate fountain head shield and aperrows of teeth at the sametime. tured disposal tube, with the bristle brushes re- 25 Anotherfeature of the invention is devoted to moved for clearness ofillustration. the adoption and use of the aforementioned mo- Referringnow to the drawings by distinguishtor-driven duplex brush assemblagehaving asing reference numerals attention is first invited sociatedtherewith an antiseptic solution containto the general assemblagedisclosed in Figures 1 ing jar, cylinder and piston means, and approand2. Here the electric motor is denoted by the 0 priately coordinateddelivery conduits to satisnumeral I 0 and this is of any suitable typeadaptfactorily deliver the antiseptic solution to the able for thepurpose. It is attached to an aprotating brushes to insure a constantsupply for propriate hanger bracket ll forming a part of effectiveresults. the substantially L-shaped supporting fixture I2 A furtherfeature of the invention has referconnectible with the wall or otherrelatively sta-- 35 ence to the provision of a single motor to drivetionary Supp surfacee nu 13 the rotatable brushes, to feed theantiseptic sodesignates a holding strap to accommodate and lution to thebrushes and to also operate the maintain in position a glass jar l4having a repiston and cylinder means, a part of which conmovablescrew-cap l5 and constituting a reserstitutes a dependable arrangementfor creating voir for a suitable antiseptic solut o appropriate suctionwithin the vicinity of the bristle brushes for cleaning the human teeth-The motor Shaft to carry away waste matter and thus promot drives apinion I6 in mesh with a power take-off rename and sanitary cleaning andspeed reducing gear I! which operates the Briefly then, the preferredembodiment of the fl m Shaft On this Shaft r invention is regarded as aninnovation and novel 15 a plmor} whlch qrlves gear i contribution to thetrade and art in that it is f 2 g? 2}; characterized by a compact andconvenient coneccen rm gear opera es e connectmg 10d which, in turn,simultaneousl reci roc sclidatlon of motor driven brushes, chemicalsosociated pistons 23 and 24 pistgns g fi 5O lution supply meanstherefor, and simultanBO to advantage in Figure 8 include heads 25 and28 6 operable waste disposal means as described. mounted f rreciprocation in companion 11 other features and advantages will becomeders 21 and 2 forming complemental parts of m readily pparent from thefollowing dethe piston and cylinder assembly units unitarily scriptionand drawings. denoted by the numeral 29. The piston heads In theaccompanying drawings wherein like are provided with suitable flapvalves 30 having 55' the desired fluid check control action. A supplyhose 3| as shown in Figure l supplies fluid into the cylinder 21, saidhose being provided with a posite end is the discharge or disposal pipe35 which is designed for connection with a suitable part of the housesewage system.

The numeral 36 designates an appropriate" flexible casing to accommodatethe flexible power propulsion shaft l8 and the associated individualhoses 33and 34. 7

Attention is now invited to Figure 3 showing the adapter fitting orcoupling 31 for the fountain brush unit 38. The coupling is made toaccommodate the handle portion39 of said unit 38. It is provided withsuitable keeper notches 40 to receive diametrically opposite keeper lugs41 provided on the adjacent. or complemental end of the handle. Thehandle, therefore, telescopes into the coupling in the manner shown. Itwill be noticed that a bearing member 42 is arranged in the coupling toaccommodate an idling or stub shaft 43 carrying agear 44. This is inconstant mesh with a companion gear 45 on the end of the flexible driveshaft I8. These gears 44 and 45 are provided with polygonal sockets 46(Fig. 4) to accommodate the correspondingly shaped or squared ends 41(Fig. on the brush operatingshafts 48. The shafts 48 are mounted forrotation in bearings in the brush handle and theextended ends thereofare provided with bristle brushes distinguished by the numerals 49 and50. These brushes turn in opposite directions and are adapted to simultaneously clean the surfaces of the upper and lower rows of teeth. Thebrushes 49 and 50 cooperate with the ovateor shield-shaped guard 5|forming an integral extension of the handle 39. The handle is providedwith bores 52 which extend'into the marginal portions of the guard 5| asindicated at the point 53 to provide suitable scopically into saidcoupling 31. Thus the pipe ends 55 project into the bores or passages 52While the key-forming ends 41 of the shafts 48 fit into the operatingsockets 46in the meshing gears, 44 and 45. The numeral 58 designates asuction pipe'connected with the disposal suction hose 34 whichpipe 56 isconnected with 'a longitudinal passage also formed in the brush handle39, said passage terminating in an extending apertured centrallydisposed intake :nozzle 51 located'between thebrushes as shown toadvantage in Figure 9 and also:in Figurefi. This is the waste matterdisposal nozzle, as is evident.

That is to say its function is to carry away extraneous matter andexcess saliva to facilitate the desired complete operation.

In operation it is understood that the motor operates the flexible shaftI8 and this, in turn,

rotates the complemental gears 44 and 45 as seen in Figure 3. Thisaction turns the brush shafts 48 and, in turn, drives the brushes 49 and50 in opposite directions. At the same time the motor actuates thepiston head 25 to supply antiseptic solution from the jar I4 to thebrushes by way of the piston and cylinder arrangement, plus the deliverypipes 55 and passages 52 and ports 54 as disclosed in Figure 3. Whilethis is being accomplished the cylinder 28 and piston 26 come into playin producing suction through the line 34. This draws in waste matterthrough the nozzle 51 and carries it into the cylinder 28 where it isdischarged by way of the check valve 30 on the proper stroke, and isforced out through the discharge pipe 35. As before indicated this pipe35 is connected with a suitable source of deposit such as the housesewage system. It follows that the provision of the duplex motor drivenbrushes, properly guarded, and the antiseptic supply, and disposal meansfor waste material, provides anideal tooth brush construction forindividual home and-other uses. It is understood that it is not so muchthe place in which the structureis used as it is the construction of theapparatus itself, which forms the novelt upon which newness ispredicated.

Possessed of features, ofrefinement and improvement, and characterizedby a consolidated arrangement reflecting compactness and convenience,itis believed that I have evolved and produced a structure which maybeunqualifiedly endorsed by the trade asperforming the desired result inan effective and reliable manner.

It is thought that thedescription taken in connection with the drawings,will enable a clear understanding of the. invention to be. had;

Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the inventionhas been shown anddescribed, it is to be understoodthat minor changes coming within thefield of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired; I r I What, isclaimed is:

As a component part of a structural assemblage of the class described, atooth brush unit including a handle terminating at one end in ashieldshaped guard and fountain forming head, said head being providedwith apertured fluid delivery passages, the handle having passagescooperati ng therewith, an'additional passage in said handle to carryoff waste material, an apertured nozzle connected with said additionalpassage and underlying said head, apair of shafts mounted for rotationin the handle and having end portions projecting beneaththe head onopposite sides of said nozzle, and brush bristles carried by saidprojecting shaft-ends in. the manner and for the purposes described.

r THURMAN B. OLIVER.

